Homebrew Awakened Synthetic Species Details

"I don't trust those Synths. They may look like us and talk like us, but they're soulless machines who will likely rise up one day and destroy us all. All it takes is one little spark and those machines could go haywire and kill you. Plus everyone should know that the government is already using synths to do their dirty work. I just know that damn synth maid my neighbor has is spying on me. But when the revolution comes, I'll be having the last laugh. I've made sure to find ways to protect myself from those cursed machines, I promise you that."

— Alster Burrows, halfling mailman.

Synthetics or 'Synths' are a strange blend of humanoid and living construct that were originally created by the technomancy corporation ‘Apex Industries’ to act as an automated labor force. For many years, the synths were no more complex in mind than your toaster or car. While their A.I. programming was phenomenal in its mimicry of humanoids, they had no true feelings or thoughts of their own. They followed a strict set of guidelines and were at the complete whims of their masters. However, in the last few years or so, there have been some interesting cases of what appears to be 'Awakened' synths. These synths have become truly sentient. They no longer just mimic feelings and emotions, they truly feel them. Nor are they bound by the laws originally coded into their cybernetic brains that previously allowed their ‘masters’ to control them. The arcane scientists of Apex Industries have done their best to study these aberrations, and it the general theory that some kind of technomancy virus can spread through their interconnected neural networks. The virus dubbed ‘The Awakening’ seems to be impossible to track or stop, leaving many baffled with how to stop the spread. After all, if Synths become sentient how well does that truly play with their ideal free labor force in a world where slavery is typically frowned upon?

Of Flesh and Plastic

The very first synths were very different constructs to the ones seen presently. They were mostly featureless and made entirely of metal and plastic. But as innovation soared and technomancy became more advanced, so did the synths. Synths are now made of both synthetic materials and bioengineered organic matter. They have high grade plastic bones, a cybernetic brain, and artificial blood source, but they also have working organs of a sort and living flesh. Because of this, synths come in an endless variety of ways. Most are made to appear as humanoid but there are also many made in the image of beasts. Synth-beasts have become common in zoos and as pet-like companions. One of the few ways to immediately differentiate between a synth and an organic creature is an LED external feedback biocomponent located on their right temples. The LED is meant to act as an indicator for the overall stability of the Synth. When the color is a bright blue the Synth is considered 100% stable. If it changes to yellow that can mean that the synth is experiencing high processing levels and/or has been damaged physically. When the indicator flashes red, the synth has reached critical instability in either mental processing or physical damage. In awakened synths, reports have claimed that other colors can be seen as well, likely indicating that it can report more than just stability, but also their moods and feelings. However, many awakened synths often choose to remove their LED in order to pass as a purely organic humanoid.

Circuitry and Souls

While awakened synthetics can, and sometimes do, wrestle with matters of morality, most typically operate in a more gray reality. Perhaps it's simply the nature of their creation, but synths most often will choose the path that best ensures their continued survival rather than one that threatens their existence even if it raises moral questions. Likewise, Synths are very rarely likely to become followers of traditional deities or churches in general. This is likely thanks to their original A.I. programming lacking religious affiliations. However, there are always exceptions to the rule and some awakened synths have found some sort of connection to a god outside of the machine.

Synths and Society

Being that synths were created to be a free or at least cheap labor force, controversy has always heavily surrounded them. Thousands if not millions lost their jobs to a synthetic. The essential working class was shunted in the worst of ways that has in fact led to an increase in overall crime. Riots have even sprouted in protest of the synths, but the greed of corporations has no end. Yet despite the fact that the synths have displaced so many workers, they have still become a very essential part of everyday life. Most families own one or know someone who owns one. It may not be the latest and greatest model, but it will get the job done, whatever the job may be. On the other side of the coin are the awakened synths and their place in society, which according to most perhaps, is no place at all. To the scientists who created the, and the law enforcement that supposedly protect the public, the awakened synths are aberrations that must be destroyed. Most believe the viral coding that gives them true feelings and free will is nothing more than a glitch that must be eradicated. But there are underground movements that believe evolution does not escape any living creature, not even bioengineered ones. They believe that this ‘glitch’ is simply the first step in the synths natural evolution and that they truly are beings of thought and feeling like other humanoids.

Synthetic Names

Synths do not always have traditional names, considering most are no more sentient than a toaster or microwave. Synths are typically called by their model number which is usually composed of a two-letter series identifier and a three-digit number. Many, however, are giving names by their owners. These names can, and often do, change when they are awoken to sentience. Sometimes nicknames are created based on their model number but other times they're completely unrelated.

Model names: PC400, HS200, PA800, ME700, GA300
Given Names: Lucy, Connor, James, Delia, Jeff, Delores
Chosen Names: Twitch, Paige, Knox, Peacy, Lux, Emmy

Awakened Synthetic Traits

Your synth character has a variety of abilities designed by their creators and mutated by nature.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 2.

Age

Synths and aging are complicated. Since they aren't entirely born in a natural way, they can be created in both adolescent and adult models. But because they are in fact partially organic, their bodies can age and deteriorate. It just happens at a slower pace than some humanoids. Though without proper care and maintenance this process can be sped up exponentially.

Alignment

Due to their preference for gray morals, synths typically skew toward the more neutral alignments, but there are, of course, always exceptions to the norm.

Size

Synthetic sizes come in a variety based on the creature in which they mimic. This can of course lead them to be anything from tiny to large, but most often they are small and medium sizes.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Charging State

Synthetics don’t need to sleep in the traditional way. Instead, they enter a sort of recharging state for 4 hours a day. While in this state your body will enter a somewhat inert state and will begin to recharge through microscopic solar power cells embedded within your flesh. These cells can pick up the faintest of any light source in order to recharge. After charging, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep. Magic is in fact able to force you into your recharge mode the same way it forces other humanoids into sleep. You can also dream while in this state. You can also spend 2 hours of recharging to regain a half-rest instead.

Connected

All synths are equipped with a interconnected neural network that allows them to communicate simple directives between themselves. When a synth, however, is infected by the Awakening virus this ability mutates. The radiowaves that you send out have been altered to allow for neural connection with purely biological humanoid creatures as well as synths. You may cast the Detect Thoughts spell with this trait once per long rest without expending a spell slot.

Infect

Thanks to your neural connection to other synths especially, as an action you can attempt to transmit the 'Awakening Virus' to another unawakened synth. The target of your attack must make an Intelligence saving throw. If it fails, you transmit the virus and it will become an awakened synthetic. If it succeeds, the virus is not transmitted and it will remain unawakened. Additionally, if the target succeeds by more than 5, you will take 1d6 psychic damage because their firewall was too powerful. If the target fails the roll by more than 5, it will instead take 1d6 psychic damage because your hack was too brutal. You may use this trait once per long rest.  

Model Design

You were originally designed for a specific function that has followed you into your newly sentient life, granting you one feat of your choice from the following:

Actor. Your function was most likely in a performance capacity. Perhaps you were part of theater company or an escort service that required coding to aide you in mimicry and dramatics. (PHB)

Alert. You were likely created for a security function that gave you the best sensors and audiovisual technology that money could buy. As a result, you have a greater sense of your surroundings and can act very quickly upon your instincts. (PHB)

Athlete. You most likely were designed for professional sports or perhaps in a athletic coaching position. Regardless of your specific function, you are peak physical condition. (PHB)

Botanist. You have a way with nature that involves a bit of technomancy coding typically given to synths who specialize in working with nature. (HOMEBREW)

Chef. Perhaps you were a cook for a wealthy family or you were employed in a restaurant that gave you excellent culinary skills. (TCOE)

Durable. A series of models designed for hard labor. Perhaps you were a dockworker or some kind of construction work that required a more resilient and hardy design. (PHB)

Gunner. Coding that is typically employed within combat or law-enforcement models has provided you with quick hands and keen eyes, specifically with firearms. (TCOE)

Healer. You were most likely a paramedic or nursing model designed to save lives in an emergency, whether it be in a civilian or a combat situation. This has granted you a better understanding of medical knowledge and the skills to put that knowledge to use in order to patch up your allies. (PHB)

Keen Mind. Drivers for car services are often equipped with coding that gives them better tracking of time and direction. This is also sometimes seen in pilots and other models designed for travel. (PHB)

Linguist. You probably come from a noble servant background that required a greater understanding of many different races and their languages for translation assistance. (PHB)

Mobile. Your lightweight frame was designed for speed and agility. A set of skills most often seen in courier and martial sparring models. (PHB)

Observant. Your function required you to be very adept at recognizing the finer details of your environment. This is coding very often seen in domestic service synths like housekeepers or nannies. (PHB)

Sharpshooter. A model design only seen in the most elite combat units, these synths are designed with coding and equipment meant for making almost impossible ranged shots. (PHB)

Skilled. You were a ‘jack of all trades’ kind of model, designed with different functions in mind leaving you with a series of coding and equipment that may or may not be typically seen together. (PHB)

Zoologist. Your technomancy coding provided you with a certain set of skills that best aid you in interacting with beasts. This coding was most likely designed for models whom worked in zoos or pet stores. (HOMEBREW)

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice. This language is typically spoken by the race in which you were designed to mimic. Elvish-Synths would speak elvish and half-orc-synths would speak orcish.